Chapter 145: Chapter 145: Someone’s Intentions, Abundantly Clear
Mrs. Qiao addressed the servants in the hall, "Except for the Old Madam’s Shou’an Hall, all of the mansion’s procurement budgets are to be cut by twenty percent. Each of you must manage your accounts carefully. If you have any problems, first report to Housekeeper Liu. If he can’t solve it, you may come to me. You are all dismissed."
The servant women bowed their heads in acknowledgment and then filed out of the room in an orderly fashion.
Ji Qingwu walked over and sat down at the opposite side of the low table, looking at the pile of account books on it.
She said in surprise, "Mother, why have you suddenly pulled out all the old account books from previous years?"
Mrs. Qiao waved her hand, and Chunhua went to stand guard at the door.
Ji Qingwu looked at her mother and instantly caught the deep-seated worry in her eyes.
Mrs. Qiao sighed. "Your father sent a letter. He says Xijin has been provoking us repeatedly, and there’s constant turmoil at the border. Your father is in contact with merchants who trade exclusively in the Northern Land, and they recently heard a rumor that General Wei has been seriously injured. The Emperor has sent General Wei Chi to the border to hold the line. There’s no telling when this war might break out."
In Handan Hall, Princess Consort Wei had said the same thing when she burst in. But Emperor Wu Su said Wei Ting was fine, and she believed him. Wei Ting would be alright.
However, she had no way of knowing if a war would truly happen, or when.
Mrs. Qiao continued, "We, the Ji Family, still need to make plans early."
’Organizing the account books, assessing the family’s assets, and even making the entire household conserve silver...’
Ji Qingwu understood the deeper meaning. Resting her chin in her hands, she said, "Mother, don’t worry. I’m an expert at running away. If war breaks out everywhere and Lin’an City is no longer safe, I’ll take you and Jiu Jiu and find us another place to live."
’If it really comes to a crisis,’ she thought, ’I’ll have to sneak into the palace and steal Yuan Heng away, too. The whole family has to escape together, safe and sound.’
Mrs. Qiao couldn’t help but laugh at her words. "Xiao Wu," she asked, amused, "what brilliant escape plans do you have? Go on, teach your mother."
Ji Qingwu puffed out her chest and said, "With my brilliant mind, of course! And I also know the Disguise Technique, I..." Her words trailed off as she realized she was about to say too much, and she abruptly stopped.
But when Mrs. Qiao heard her words, there wasn’t the slightest hint of surprise on her face.
Her gaze was warm as she looked at her daughter’s face. "My dear Xiao Wu, it’s wonderful that you’re so capable."
’Those words were so familiar. She’d just said something very similar to Yuan Heng at the palace.’
A warmth spread through Ji Qingwu’s heart.
Mrs. Qiao then took out something from the very bottom of a box. She said to her, "These shops aren’t part of the Ji Family’s assets. They were part of my dowry, and they’re for you."
Ji Qingwu wanted to refuse, but her eyes were glued to the stack of papers.
’She wanted them, but she was too embarrassed to take them.’
Mrs. Qiao directly stuffed the business contracts for the shops into her hand. "When your older sister got married, I gave her some as well. This portion was saved for you. I had originally planned to give them to you as part of your dowry when you married."
But her daughter’s marriage was something that needed careful, long-term consideration. She sighed with emotion. "Now, it seems we don’t need to wait until then. You live life for yourself. It’s better for you to take over these sooner rather than later."
Mrs. Qiao added earnestly, "My dear, as long as you’re with me, you can do whatever you want. You don’t have to restrain yourself."
Seeing Ji Qingwu’s eyes turn red, Mrs. Qiao said with a smile, "You’re a mother yourself now, yet you’re still on the verge of tears at the drop of a hat. If the servants see this, they’ll laugh at you."
Looking at the smile lines at the corners of Mrs. Qiao’s eyes, Ji Qingwu threw herself forward and hugged her around the waist.
She said coquettishly, "I don’t care. You’re my mother. These are tears of gratitude. Other people won’t laugh; they’ll just be jealous of how lucky I am."
’Her youngest daughter, lost since childhood, was so easily contented. She was hugging her so affectionately, just like when she was a little girl, always clinging to her side.’
Mrs. Qiao’s heart felt a mix of sour and sweet. Stroking her head, she said, "Since Xiao Wu is so lucky, it seems your mother will get to enjoy a comfortable life from now on."
Ji Qingwu stopped being modest, put away the shop deeds, and sat up straight.
Recalling what Mrs. Qiao had just said, she declared confidently, "Mother, don’t worry about silver. I’ll find a way to make these shops more profitable. Even if we’re not in Lin’an in the future, we can still manage them remotely."
However, Mrs. Qiao asked in confusion, "Xiao Wu, what are you talking about? Why would we leave Lin’an?"
Ji Qingwu looked at the thick account books in front of her, perplexed. "Mother, aren’t you planning how the Ji Family will escape and survive when the war starts?"
Mrs. Qiao shook her head. "If the war really reaches the capital city, how can any egg remain unbroken in an overturned nest? The Ji Family is the Empress Dowager’s maternal family. There is no escape for us."
Ji Qingwu was truly baffled. "Then why did Father ask you to organize the account books, see how much spare money we have, and make the whole family scrimp and save? What are we saving all this silver for?"
Mrs. Qiao gathered the account books into a wooden box to the side and locked it.
She looked at her and said, "What your father meant is that the front lines need funds for the war. Although the national treasury has a surplus, this is a new dynasty, after all, and its foundations are not yet deep. The Ji Family must be the first to set an example."
Ji Qingwu understood.
’Her father, Ji Bo Lian, intended to take all the family’s spare money and donate it to the Northern Border Army on the front lines.’
This sentiment left Ji Qingwu speechless for a moment.
She had been back for so long now and had noticed that the Ji Mansion was not extravagant or wasteful. One could see it from the Old Madam’s Shou’an Hall alone. Although her father was a key minister who had helped the new emperor ascend the throne, the mansion’s standards were never excessive; in fact, some aspects could even be considered frugal.
Compared to the many lavish aristocratic families in Lin’an, the Ji Family could be described with a single word: "poor."
But while others, when poor, would only look after themselves, her father, when "poor," sought to aid the entire world.
Ji Bo Lian was an upright official. Most of the wealth of the Ji Family’s main branch came from their legitimate shops, while the second branch only ever spent money, never earning any.
The colossal expense of a war was more than the savings of tens of thousands of Ji Mansions could cover.
Mrs. Qiao continued, "Your father is the most loyal and patriotic man. If the Emperor said the front lines needed more men and called for a draft, and our family had no suitable sons—with your older brother away on a diplomatic mission in Nanchu—believe it or not, he would be willing to go to the battlefield and fight the enemy himself, even at his age."
Mrs. Qiao was not exaggerating. Hearing this, Ji Qingwu’s brow furrowed with gloom.
’Never mind his age, her father was a civil servant who couldn’t lift anything heavy or carry a load... He was less capable in a fight than she was. All he had was a burning passion to serve his country.’
Ji Qingwu said helplessly, "If that day ever comes, I suppose I’ll just have to follow the example of Mulan and take my father’s place in the army."
Mrs. Qiao patted her head. "You silly child. It would never fall to you to go to the battlefield."
Ji Qingwu thought about it. ’You never know.’
＊
「Wutong Garden.」
The moment she was back from her lessons, Jiu Jiu shot into the courtyard like a little firecracker.
Ji Qingwu was sitting by the window, pondering what to do with those few shops. If a war was coming, what kind of business would be most suitable?
"Mother!" The little girl’s voice was loud and clear.
Jiu Jiu entered with a broad smile, the pink and blue pouch slung over her shoulder stuffed to the brim.
As if presenting a treasure, she took everything out and covered the small square table with the same fruit candies Ji Qingwu had tasted before.
"Candy tycoon" Jiu Jiu said with great magnanimity, "Mother, have some candy!"
Ji Qingwu knew at a glance where these candies, stamped with the seal of the Imperial Kitchen, had come from.
’A certain someone was really taking a two-pronged approach. Today, he’d specifically sent someone to lead her to Yuanheng Palace.’
’And he hadn’t been idle, either.’
’That man’s intentions were practically written all over his face.’
